Piano Rialzato, Fondamenta Gheradini, Venice, 12th -13th March 2001
Venice was enveloped in mist; La Serenissima looked forlorn and faded; boats sounded mournful warnings and bells tolled out of invisible campaniles.
It was graduation time at Foscari University and along the eponymous calle students celebrated their doctorates. Vittoria Lo Riggio, in furs and a laurel wreath, read from a poster celebrating her academic achievements and suggested a less well-clad student lifestyle. Nearby, graphic, uninhibited posters proclaimed the endowments and achievements of Aldechi Pegoraro and Elisabetta Lo Pozzobon. Celebration and braggadocio with a dose of penance and atonement.
Next day in Padua it looked more like ritual humiliation. In fancy dress with the added flour, water, foam and relaxing alcohol, the candidates stood up and read from salacious sheets mixing the fruits of study with sex, football and motorcycles, egged on by chants of ‘Dottore, Dottore, Dottore…’. As if self-abasement was not enough, each candidate had to run the gauntlet of parallel lines of their back-slapping peers. Huddled parents stood by trying to be proud, their faces torn between amusement, concern and embarrassment.